EU agrees that all indications on Syria chemical attack points to Assad
Source: Washington Post
The European Union agreed on Saturday that the Aug. 21 chemical attack outside Damascus appears to have been the work of Syria’s regime, but that any potential military attack against it should wait for a U.N. inspectors’ report.
After meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, the EU ministers ended days of division on the issue with a statement saying the available intelligence “seems to indicate strong evidence that the Syrian regime is responsible for these attacks.”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius, who hosted the meeting, put it more bluntly in targeting Syrian President Bashar Assad, speaking of “more and more evidence that the Assad regime is behind all these crimes. We can’t just ignore this.”
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/eu-agrees-that-all-indications-regarding-syria-chemical-attack-points-to-assad/2013/09/07/ffe30420-17b0-11e3-961c-f22d3aaf19ab_story.html
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Iliyah
(25,111 posts)but its WaPo.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)Appearances .......
cstanleytech
(28,221 posts)one of the two sides *sigh*
Mysterysouppe
(68 posts)In other words, an accident.
cstanleytech
(28,221 posts)be the case because it would give the administration the perfect excuse to back out of a potential mess.
David__77
(24,508 posts)Shut off the valve of illegal weapons flowing to the terrorist groups, and convene the peace talks.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)The fact is they won't.
SunSeeker
(57,539 posts)jessie04
(1,528 posts)And that's supposed to make us mad ?
Why should we get involved ? We should care about those innocents gasping their last breath?
No, progressive means pacifism.
And so what if he uses chemical weapons again....and more kids die mercilessly from asphyxiation.
I think that's sarcasm.
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)BUT hey, they are not my kin folks or kids and plus Americans don't have anything in common with them anyways, also they are freaking Muslims, who cares, its not our problem.
Continued with the sarcasm.
David__77
(24,508 posts)...
RC
(25,592 posts)Never a peaceful solution, when a military one will do.
Where humanitarian aid is supplying both sides in a conflict? Where Al qaeda is on our side, or we're on their's or something? Where our government spy's on its own people and builds data bases on private individuals, like we are just another subversive enemy.
That radical terrorist?
frylock
(34,825 posts)not really getting this fixation on methods of killing. dead is dead, whether it's by the use of chemical weapons, tomahawk cruise missiles, or cluster bombs.
totodeinhere
(13,688 posts)And we should also care about the innocents who will inevitably be killed by our bombs and missiles if we attack.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)Yes, a few of Assad's forces may die .....but a whole lot more will die if Assad is allowed to chemically nuke innocent people with total impunity.
Seriously...any thoughts if and when Assad uses chemical weapons again and again?
Is there any atrocity he could do to change your mind about not taking out his delivery systems? I wait for your response.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)your silence and lack of calls for action while the first 100,000 died in Syria. It seems as if you were utterly unmoved by massive death, perhaps due to lack of video footage or prompting from politicians. To suddenly demand action after not so much as advocating for refugee relief in the past seems affected.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)We cant stop every civil war...
we cant stop every murder of innocents...
we cant express outrage when so much outrage is out in the world....
we cant help every refugee in every conflict.
But there are certain times when a civilized society has to say "enough".
imho, using chemical, biologic and nuclear weapons are those times.
I guess I will ask you then....is there any atrocity Assad could do where you would say "enough" and we should take those delivery systems ?
Or no matter how many people he kills with chemical weapons, we should not act militarily?
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Your outrage is reserved for killing with chemical weapons alone?
jessie04
(1,528 posts)too silly to respond.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Your response is a rather petty insult otherwise.
frylock
(34,825 posts).
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)who will not be harmed by these bombs? Why did you not care about the tens of thousands already dead. You just wave them off and declare that when people are gassed, we must then bombs some more people who did not gas them.
Sad that you are so deeply calloused about massive war deaths in general.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)Sorry you now view me as "callous".....you are so sadly mistaken.
Sorry you turned our conversation into a personal attack when we were so respectful.
Thx....no need to respond.
Sand Wind
(1,573 posts)Just enough to say It, not enough to call for any efficient action.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)That would be the most "efficient" action, or lack of action, possible. Supporting a bombing campaign, on the other hand, would be supporting mass indiscriminate murder, mass indiscriminate murder my country would never shed the blame for.
I did support the Syrian rebels until it became clear they were just as ruthless and brutal as the Assad regime. Now I support none of those fighting in Syria. I now believe our efforts should be directed only toward helping the millions of refugees this civil war has left homeless and helpless.
blm
(114,428 posts)Pretty sure biological and chemical weapons were banned.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)Which of the Geneva Conventions are you asking me about?
karynnj
(60,779 posts)Did you back the Geneva 2 effort? Many in the administration did do all they could to at least get Geneva 2 back on the table - and one than one person said there was no military solution - that we need a political one.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)on the internet. Second, I have actually been in the region during times of strife, I have seen the retaliations you hope for and this informs my opposition to killing as an answer to killing. I've actually been within a couple of miles of actual fighting in actual Syria.
Want to keep up with your taunts?
blm
(114,428 posts)who has worked most diligently the past 8 years to guide Assad towards diplomatic solutions for the region, even against the wishes of establishment DC from 2005-2009?
Can you name him?
totodeinhere
(13,688 posts)And if we do attack in spite of nearly world wide opposition, there is no guarantee that we could take out his delivery systems anyway. Bombing and missile strikes can only do so much. Assad has already moved military assets to civilian areas so if we do go after those assets inevitably many innocent civilians will be killed and wounded and their number will most likely be greater than the number who died in the chemical attack. And if we do degrade his military capabilities the Russians have already said that they will replace whatever military assets the Syrians lose.
Can't you see that a military attack on Syria will only perpetuate a continuing cycle of violence?
jessie04
(1,528 posts)Take out his airfields.
take out his planes.
take out his helicopter gunships.
take out his command and control.
take out his communications.
take out his non-chemical munitions.
yeah, he would feel his priceless toys go bye-bye.
I suppose Russia could replace those but not anytime soon.
no, I think a limited strike above will stop a lot of the murder by this regime.... not all but a lot.
I respect your response ....I just disagree.
totodeinhere
(13,688 posts)An operation like that would take weeks and cost us in the billions. And it would almost certainly provoke retaliation by Iran and Hezbollah. It could result in an attack on Israel as well.
But of course the MIC would love it. I'm sure that the folks at Raytheon are salivating at the prospect of a big fat contract to replace the cruise missiles that we use up.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)that's very limited... that's 2 or 3 days max...with little spill over.
And we're supposed to cower in fear over what Iran and Hezbollah might do ?
You mean Iran and Hezbollah might not like us?
Like they ever did?
And this is suddenly their excuse to retaliate ?
They don't need an excuse.
I don't know..since when has appeasing tyrants been the US policy?
As for Raytheon, I couldn't care less.
I appreciate your honesty and thoughts.
totodeinhere
(13,688 posts)jessie04
(1,528 posts)totodeinhere
(13,688 posts)Last edited Sat Sep 7, 2013, 05:51 PM - Edit history (1)
John2
(2,730 posts)What do you expect Syria and her Allies will be doing while you are slyly destroying the Syrian Army? You actually think the Syrian people and others supporting Syria are that stupid but that is the really pres tense why you support intervening into Syria isn't it. That is the army, used to protect Syria against foreign invaders like the United States, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel and all other enemies of their state, so you wish! I see the pretense of it too and don't believe anything about these chemical attacks. I think the people in our Government insult the intelligence of the American people and think we can't see when they are lying to us. The only regime change needs to be in Washington. Those crooks aren't doing anything for the American people as far as I'm concern and we need to clean our Government up. People that trusted Obama and had hope in him changing things in Washington, are becoming disappointed in him everyday listening to some of the people taking us for fools. And it depends on whom you think is murdering whom. I think the Syrian army is defending their country, just as our Army is expected to defend our country. Especially when I see some Syrian civilians cheering their Army when they liberate a village from Terrorists, supported by the United States. I don't think Americans have blood on their hands but I think those in our Government does. So, if it turns out these soldiers are just defending their own country against the Foreign aggression of the United States, Britain, France, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel, then you will be just as guilty. Of course, it is your opinion they are telling the absolute truth, but my opinion is they are lying. I don't believe the phony evidence so far and put it all out in the open. If the claim is some people would be in danger, then remove them. If the claim is some techniques will have to be revealed, then that is the price they have to pay, given the last fraud. It may be a high standard but it is worth avoiding a War.
You're right... I must be crazy.
David__77
(24,508 posts)The “Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant” (ISIL), which is the resulting entity from the merger of al-Qaeda in Iraq and Syria, is seen in this video intercepting three trucks in Iraq heading to Syria. The three truck drivers, one of whom is from Tartous, are then questioned whether they’re Sunnis or Shiites (Shias). Then the hardline Wahhabi jihadist proceeds to ask them about the number of kneelings a Muslim is supposed to perform at dawn, noon, and evening prayers. After they apparently failed in answering correctly, they are taken and shot execution-style by the jihadists who, as usual, scream “Allahu Akbar!” with jubilation. The video ends with a statement threatening the “Armies of the Cross in Dabiq” to be burnt by the fire whose spark was ignited in Iraq. Dabiq is a town near Aleppo where the battle of Marj Dabiq took place on August 24, 1516, and it ended up in a decisive victory of the Ottoman Empire over the Mamluk Sultanate.
Rebellious Republican
(5,029 posts)This is good news, the UN getting involved would be a good thing. Everyone outside of our government seems to be asking the UN to do something 
karynnj
(60,779 posts)It would be good if they did - maybe by demanding Syria surrender its chemical weapons - but Russia would likely veto that.
Rebellious Republican
(5,029 posts)It illustrates the frustration on a global scale. It helps to force the UN into action.
jessie04
(1,528 posts)UN aint going to do nothing....Putin has made that clear.
But lets suppose they condemned the use of chemical weapons, you would THEN APPROVE of strikes?
Rebellious Republican
(5,029 posts)As we have discussed in previous threads and PM's I know it works, been there done that. I ask you, the world should do something or nothing? 
jessie04
(1,528 posts)another_liberal
(8,821 posts)We have no choice but to blow Syrians and their children to pieces with high explosives, and thus save them from the horrors of chemical warfare. Surely anyone can see the logic in that, right?
Nine out of ten weapons makers agree: We must bomb Syria into the Stone Age. It's the only humanitarian thing to do.
totodeinhere
(13,688 posts)But lets assume that the report is right and Assad is personally responsible for the chemical attacks. That makes him a war criminal. But it is not the place of our country to enforce laws against war crimes. That is the responsibility of the international community, not us acting unilaterally. And BTW, if we are so concerned about war crimes why don't we do something about our own war criminals such as Bush, Cheney, Rummy and the gang?
spartan61
(2,091 posts)
daleo
(21,317 posts)They just launched wars against foreigners, based on lies, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands. So, they get a pass.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)They did, however, use White Phosphorus like it was going out of style on Iraqis, indiscriminately of whether those Iraqis were innocent civilians or combatants. That is at least as heinous a war crime as using sarin gas.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)
seabeckind
(1,957 posts)First of all, before I get into why I have that reaction is the source of this "news". The EU? The EU is a group of high level economic people who get together to see how they're going to divide the herd this time around. BTW, guess who's the herd? And guess who's standing there with the prod? Bonus points if you can say where the prod will end up.
Secondly, what happens next, assuming that Assad is the bad guy? I've got some serious doubts about that, too. Based on what I've seen of the religious nuts who are trying to establish their particular brand of theocracy, I choose to pick none of the above.
Thirdly, why are we being politicked so stongly? I feel like a guy in a used car lot. Why is that guy pushing so hard for me to buy a particular car? I have this feeling deep in my gut that it's not for my benefit.
Long ago, probably when I stumbled into the 7th grade I started questioning a lot of things. Like why I was being told to go stand over there. Or do this or that thing. So I started looking very closely for the reason. Most times it wasn't for my convenience.
On this issue? They can go peddle their used car somewhere else. I've seen the water stains underneath.
And as far as Obama, the used car salesman? I learned where his loyalties lay long, long ago. I got to admit, when he screws us he has a smile on his face and talks real purty. At least with the gop I know I'm going to get screwed.
JohnnyRingo
(20,505 posts)He knows damn well the gas attacks were orchestrated from the Oval Office for the sole sake of helping Obama's Muslim buddies. hahaha
soundsgreat
(125 posts)This is no carte blanche for O.
Bonhomme Richard
(9,490 posts)civilians unless he is insane, which he isn't. Upsides for the rebels...I see plenty.
The whole thing doesn't pass my smell test. Just like the last one.
Like I say in my sig, I'm done being played.
another_liberal
(8,821 posts)It really makes no sense for Assad to have used sarin, especially with the U.N. inspectors already in Damascus.
bhikkhu
(10,789 posts)Saying he wouldn't do something that was stupid or against his best interests ignores quite a bit of his policies and actions over the years.
Regardless of being for or against military action, Assad has pretty much made his own thoroughly screwed-up bed in Syria.
John2
(2,730 posts)I think it is more like Assad ignored both of them. Just what are you claiming Assad failed to do? Give some specifics, and then maybe we can see where you are coming from. The current disatrous state is because of foreign intervention and causing unrest among the religious fanatics. Assad has done nothing less than what his father did to hold Syria together. The Muslim Brotherhood has always threatened Syria, regardless of outside threats from the Israelis. The Syrian Government is also a big supporter of the PLO, and Hezbullah, which threatens Israel.
Hamas was also supported by the Assad Government but something happened to change that equation. I'll say something must have been promised to Hamas from Morsi to stop attacking Israel and then suddenly turning on Syria. Some backroom deals were made. So you now call the Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, and the Taliban freedom fighters in Syria, while the European Union now encouraged by none other than the United States and Israel label Hezbullah as a Terrorist organization finally. The best thing for the American people is to worry about our own interests and force our leaders to do so.
iamthebandfanman
(8,127 posts)You mean DUers who were reacting like 9/11 truthers after the first pictures and videos came out are just nutjobs after all????
get out of town.